Jones sees 'uncomfortable' offseason of change ahead for Cowboys

Updated 9:37 pm, Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Photo: Richard Lipski, Associated Press

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Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, on his radio show Wednesday, said it would be “very uncomfortable for the next few weeks and months at Valley Ranch.” Dallas missed the playoffs for the third straight season.

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, on his radio show Wednesday, said it would be “very uncomfortable for the next few weeks and months at Valley Ranch.” Dallas missed the playoffs for the third straight season.

Photo: Richard Lipski, Associated Press

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Express-News beat writer Tom Orsborn grades the Cowboys’ 2012 season after they finished third in the NFC East and out of the playoffs at 8-8:

PHOTO: Dallas Cowboys helmets sit on the bench during the first half against the New Orleans Saints in Dallas on Dec. 23.

HEAD COACH — GRADE: BJason Garrett continued to be dogged by questionable play-calling and game-management decisions, but he earned high marks for handling the Jerry Brown/Josh Brent tragedy and fielding a team that overcame injuries to play hard every game.

PHOTO: Garrett gestures during the first half against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Dec. 16.

HEAD COACH — GRADE: B
Jason Garrett continued to be dogged by questionable play-calling and game-management decisions, but he earned high marks for handling the Jerry Brown/Josh Brent tragedy and fielding a

GENERAL MANAGER — GRADE: DJerry Jones’ decision to give long-term deals to Miles Austin, Doug Free and Barry Church are easily second-guessed. But the bottom line is, any other GM would have been fired after fielding a team that’s gone 140-141 with one playoff win since it ended the 1995 season with its last Super Bowl win.

PHOTO: Jones looks on before the Cowboys game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 9 in Cincinnati, Ohio.

GENERAL MANAGER — GRADE: D
Jerry Jones’ decision to give long-term deals to Miles Austin, Doug Free and Barry Church are easily second-guessed. But the bottom line is, any other GM would have been fired

OVERALL — GRADE: C On the surface, another 8-8 season with a loss in a playoffs-or-go-home season finale would signal a lack of progress. But the Cowboys established a play-hard-to-the- final-gun identity and showed plenty of grit in overcoming injuries, including to linebacker Sean Lee, and off-the-field adversity.

PHOTO: Tony Romo (from left), Kyle Orton and others sit on the bench during the second half against the Chicago Bears on Oct. 1 in Arlington.

OVERALL — GRADE: C
On the surface, another 8-8 season with a loss in a playoffs-or-go-home season finale would signal a lack of progress. But the Cowboys established a play-hard-to-the- final-gun identity and

RUN OFFENSE — GRADE: F Dallas tied the club record for the fewest rushing attempts (355) and set the franchise mark for fewest rushing yards (1,265) in a 16-game season. With DeMarco Murray missing six games with a foot injury and a shaky offensive line, Dallas finished 31st in rushing.

PHOTO: Murray runs down the sideline as Tampa Bay's Michael Bennett tries to push him out of bounds during the first half in Arlington on Sept. 23.

RUN OFFENSE — GRADE: F
Dallas tied the club record for the fewest rushing attempts (355) and set the franchise mark for fewest rushing yards (1,265) in a 16-game season. With DeMarco Murray missing six games

RUN DEFENSE — GRADE: D Injuries were a huge factor in the club finishing 22nd in the league in this category. But it's inexcusable that the Redskins' Alfred Morris rushed for 200 yards in the finale, which was 10 yards short of the second-best rushing performance against the Cowboys.

PHOTO: New Orleans' Darren Sproles looks for room between Dallas' Anthony Spencer (left) and Gerald Sensabaugh during first half action on Dec. 23 in Arlington.

RUN DEFENSE — GRADE: D
Injuries were a huge factor in the club finishing 22nd in the league in this category. But it's inexcusable that the Redskins' Alfred Morris rushed for 200 yards in the finale, which

PASS OFFENSE — GRADE: B Dallas finished third in the NFL, averaging nearly 300 yards per game thanks to career years from Tony Romo (4,903 passing yards) and Dez Bryant (1,382 receiving yards and 12 TDs). But Romo's 19 interceptions tied for the league high.

PHOTO: Romo passes to Dallas Cowboys' DeMarco Murray during first half action against the New Orleans Saints on Dec. 23 in Arlington.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones stressed on his radio show Wednesday that missing the playoffs a third straight season has created angst within the franchise and will force him to make some moves.

“I can tell you change is necessary at 8-8,” Jones said. “Change is in order when you spend (the last) two seasons in a row (going) down to the last two games and lose them. So we're going to have to have changes.”

The NFC East title was at stake Sunday night, but the Cowboys fell 28-18 at Washington after Tony Romo threw three interceptions and the defense allowed rookie Alfred Morris to rush for 200 yards and three touchdowns.

“I can assure our fans this: It's going to be very uncomfortable from my standpoint,” Jones told Dallas' KRLD-FM. “It's going to be very uncomfortable for the next few weeks and months at Valley Ranch.”

The Cowboys are 140-141 with one playoff win since winning their last Super Bowl after the 1995 season, a pitiful showing for the once-proud club and one Jones said will cause him to do something “almost unconventional” to get the franchise back on track.

Jones also wouldn't discuss whether Romo will receive an extension. Romo's contract is set to expire after the 2013 season. But Jones did indicate a deal likely will get done.

“Tony is a tremendous asset, and he's an asset that's going to be with the Dallas Cowboys for, as far as I'm concerned, a long time,” Jones said.

Jones said part of his plan to get the Cowboys back to the playoffs would be to seek advice from people outside of the organization.

The last time Dallas missed the playoffs three years in a row was during the Dave Campo era of 2000-02.

“I have a lot of confidence in that (seeking outside help) will help us evaluate how to do the things I know our fans want to do, and that's not be sitting here at .500,” Jones said. “There are a lot of teams that haven't been at .500, but nobody hasn't been at .500 and spent as much cash as I'm spending.”

One of the players Jones gave big money to during the offseason believes the arrow is pointing up for the Cowboys after they fought through several injuries to key players and the death of practice squad player Jerry Brown in a car wreck that resulted in nose tackle Josh Brent being charged with intoxication manslaughter.

“Oh, man, it was a roller coaster this season,” said cornerback Brandon Carr, who signed a $50.1 million, five-year free agent deal in the offseason.

“We were up. We were down. There was never a dull moment both on and off the field.

“But with all the adverse situations we've been through, we were still able to stick together and still fight each Sunday, each week, and put on a good or decent performance. We have a lot to look forward to, a lot to build on.”